April 27, 2006
Panoptically Speaking
Unlike most of my cohort (I have later learned), I never heard of The Panopticon before I listened to a novel called "The Traveler" by John Twelve Hawks. I was drawn to it, because I thought it was about gypsies, which it wasn't. Twelve Hawks, who is interviewed with a voice disguiser on the audio book, prefers to remain anonymous and "lives off the grid". Lordy where have I been? I'm referring to the Panoptican, not the off the grid, upon which, as you know, I am atop.
Designed in 1810 by the philospher Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon is the prison system which allows many to be guarded by a few on the basis of illusion. I will leave it to you to explore the concept synoptically. Suffice it to say that The Panopticon is the architectural metaphor for the phrase "Big Brother is Watching You".
"The Traveler" elucidates the technological panopticon of modern society. In addtion to all the latest information about the invasion of privacy, this book has it all -- spiritual development, ubiquitious unwanted surveillance by folks who don't have anyone's best interest at heart but their own, hi tech utopian communities (where leisure is valued for creative endeavors), martial arts, hungry ghosts, samari swords, love, the legacy of the disciple Peter who renounces Jesus, time travel to other dimensions, honor, iris readers and chase scenes, so you can see why I liked it, in spite of its disturbing message.
If you don't have time to read the book, The American Civil Liberties Union has created a little internet experience that illuminates it all, panoptically, of course.
All of us here at Dakota are surprised to learn that we have been using both panoptic modes for quite some time. We were sure we must be doing something.
Photo note: Griddy, in an abstract way, don't you think? Those vinyl storm windows always lend themselves to visions (scroll down for vision).